Improvement in vehicle-top supports



R. HUNT.

Vehicle Ton-Supports.

No.166,610. PatentedAug.l0,l875.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REBEN HUNT, OF ALBION, MIGHGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-TOP SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,6 [0, dated August 10, 1875; application filed June 17, 1875.

T0 all whom it may cmwem:

Be it known that I, REBEN HUNT, of Albion, in the county of Oalhoun, Michigan, have invented an Improved Top-Support for Carriages, of which the following is a specification:

My invention has for its object to provide --the rear bow of a folding carriage-top with an elastic support at the point where it comes in contact with the seat-prop When throwu back, co prevent the said bow from being broken on the prop by the continual jar and vibration to which it is subjected thereon when the vehicle is in motion. V

The invention consists in a metallic bar grooved to fit the back of the rear bow, to which it is secured by clamp at each end. To the bar is secured a peculiar leaf-spring, faced With leather at the point where it comes into contact With the seat-prop.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the rear boW of a carriage-top With my improved support applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same resting upon the seat-prop.

In the drawing, A represents a part of the rear bow of a folding top, having a metal fishbar, B, secured thereto by a clamp, a, at each end, the said bar being hollowed to fit the bow. 0 is a leaf-spring, having each end bent under itself, and then outwardly again, and fastened by a rivet, b, at each extremity to the bar B. Where said spring would strike the seat-prop it is faced With lcather, as at a, to prevent it from chafing or abrading the covering of the seat-prop, which is usually leather. When the top is thrown back the scatprop supports it, but also acts as a fulcrum to break the baok bow under the heavy jarring of rapid travel over a rough road, or in running over au obstruction. With my improvement interpOsed there is no danger from this source, as the spring affords a yielding support, while the bar distributes the stress over a considerable distance in the length of the bow, instead of having it borne on one spot only. As will be seen these supporters can be applied at any time to the bows of a carriage-top by simply bolting them on by means of the clamps.

What I claim as my invention is The oombination, with the bow A of a car riage-top, of the metallic plate B, secured by the clamp a, and provided With the spring 0, all constructcd and arranged substantially as described and shown.

REUBEN HUNT. Witnesses:

A.B. HUGHES, O. B. W001). v 

